Francis of Assisi
65 quotes
Biography
Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone, known as Francis of Assisi, was an Italian mystic, poet and Catholic friar who founded the religious order of the Franciscans. Inspired to lead a Christian life of poverty, he became a beggar and an itinerant preacher.
"Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love."
"Lord, grant that I might not so much seek to be loved as to love."
"All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle."
"Start by doing what is necessary, then what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible."
"The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today"
"Sanctify yourself and you will sanctify society."
"Let every man abide in the art or employment wherein he was called. And for their labor they may receive all necessary things, except money. ... Let none of the brothers, wherever he may be or whithersoever he may go, carry or receive money or coin in any manner, or cause it to be received, either for clothing, or for books, or as the price of any labor, or indeed for any reason, except on account of the manifest necessity of the sick brothers. For we ought not to have more use and esteem of money and coin than of stones. And the devil seeks to blind those who desire or value it more than stones. Let us therefore take care lest after having left all things we lose the kingdom of heaven for such a trifle. And if we should chance to find money in any place, let us no more regard it than the dust we tread under our feet."
"Where there is charity and wisdom, there is neither fear nor ignorance. Where there is patience and humility, there is neither anger nor vexation. Where there is poverty and joy, there is neither greed nor avarice. Where there is peace and meditation, there is neither anxiety nor doubt."
"Such was the will of the Father that his Son, blessed and glorious, whom he gave to us, and who was born for us, should by his own blood, sacrifice, and oblation, offer himself on the altar of the cross, not for himself, by whom "all things were made," but for our sins, leaving us an example that we should follow his steps."
"All those men and women … who in their body serve the world through the desires of the flesh, the concerns of the world and the cares of this life: They are held captive by the devil, whose children they are, and whose works they do."
"We must not be wise and prudent according to the flesh, but, instead, we must be simple, humble and pure."
"Preach the gospel in everything you do. If necessary, use words. --St. Francis"
""Preach the gospel all the time--if necessary, use words." Francis of Assisi"
"St. Francis reportedly said, "Preach Jesus, and if necessary use words.""
"Witness for Christ each day, and if necessary use words."
"Always remember to preach the gospel, and if necessary, use words."
"Wherever you go, preach the gospel, and if necessary, use words."
"Share the gospel at all times, and if necessary, use words"
"Go into all the world and preach the gospel, and, if necessary, use words."
"Do all you can to preach the gospel and if necessary use words!"
"Preach often, and if necessary, use words"
"Lord, grant me the strength to change the things I can, the serenity to deal with the things I cannot change, and the wisdom to know the difference."
"He who works with his hands is a laborer. He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman. He who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist."
"He detested those in the Order who dressed in three layers of clothing or who wore soft clothes without necessity. As for “necessity” not based on reason but on pleasure, he declared that it was a sign of a spirit that was extinguished. “When the spirit is lukewarm,” he said, “and gradually growing cold as it moves from grace, flesh and blood inevitably seek their own interests. When the soul finds no delight, what is left except for the flesh to look for some? Then the base instinct covers itself with the excuse of necessity, and the mind of the flesh forms the conscience."
"I love the mystics; Francis also was in many aspects of his life, but I do not think I have the vocation and then we must understand the deep meaning of that word. The mystic manages to strip himself of action, of facts, objectives and even the pastoral mission and rises until he reaches communion with the Beatitudes. Brief moments but which fill an entire life."